Boat-propeller.



S. T. CRAWFORD.

BOAT PROPELLER. v APPLIOATION FILED mus, 1908.

929,564. Patented July 27, 1909.

N unumu l W him! .21 [law 0rd SAMUEL T. CRAWFORD, OF

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM GREEN, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOAT-PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Application filed May. 9, 1908. Serial No. 431,900.

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, and State ofMaryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boat-Propellers,of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in marine propellers, andit has for its object primarily to provide a simple and em cientpropelling apparatus which is capable of being readily applied tovessels of various kinds and especiall to small vessels, such as rowboats or the li e, and in some instances it may be applied to the usualsteam or sail ing vessels of moderate size to serve in cases ofemergency to effect the propulsion and steerin thereof.

Anot er object of the invention is to provide repelling means of thischaracter wherem the propelling blade or screw is mounted in cooperativerelation and movable with a rudder element whereby the ap paratus servesnot only for the propulsion of the vessel, but may be used also for thesteerin thereof.

Further objects of the invention are to provide "propelling mechanism ofthe class described which is provided with novel means for attaching itto the stern of the boat, the mounting thus provided serving to supportan inclined shaft carrying the propelling means, able axially so as tovary the depth of the propeller so as to accommodate it to shallowwater, and it is also an object of my invention to provide operatingmeans for the propeller that may be conveniently manipulated while theoperator either sits within the'boat or is in a standing position.

To these and other endsfthe invention consists in certain improvements,and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularlyin the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a propellerconstructed in accordance with my. present invention, the pro ellerbeing shown attached to the stern o a small boat; Fig. 2 represents aplan view of the device partly in section Fig. 3 is a perspective viewshowing the coupling elements which provide a universal connectionbetween the'shaft of the propeller the said shaft being adjust 4 ahorizontal screw and the main operating shaft; and Be it known that I,SAMUEL T, CRAWFORD,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a device for mounting the propellingmeans-upon a boat.

Similar parts are designated by thesame reference characters in theseveral views. Propelling apparatus constructed in accordance with mypresent invention is capable of being used generally on vessels ofvarious kinds and sizes, the size of the propelling I apparatus and thedetail construction thereof varying according to the differentapplication of the invention, the apparatus being shown in the presentinstance as applied to a vessel of relatively small size, such as a rowboat, which is capable of being propelled by hand power.

The propplling apparatus shown in the present em odiment of my inventioncomprises a frame 1 which is referably flat and provided with a plate orlade 2 at the rear end which serves as a rudder. The forward portion ofthis frame is recessed at 3 to receive a pro eller. Any suitable form ofpropeller may e used, but it is generally preferable to employ anaxially-elongated screw or auger propeller 4, the axis of which isarranged horizontally of the rudder frame. This pro eller is providedwith a supporting shaft 5, t e rear end of which is 'journaled in abearing 6 formed at the forward end of the rudder blade 2, and theforward end of the propeller shaft is connected by a suitable o cratingshaft is preferably inclined rela .tively to the axis of the ropeller inorder that the axis of the propel or may remain in ositionbeneath thesurface of the water w ile the inclined shaft extends upwardly so as tobe accessible for o eration from the boat. The operating sha in thepresent instance is provided with a socket 8 at its lower end having asquare or other angular-shaped recess therein to receive a correspondingangular-shaped member 9 fixed to the forward end of the propeller shaft,the recess in the socket being referably ta ered toward its inner endand t e member 9 eing also correspondingly tapered in order that thesocket and its cooperating member may provide a driving connectionbetween the shaft and propeller notwithstandin the angular relationofthe two shafts. T e socket 8 may be keyed, plinned or otherwisesuitably attaehed to t e lower end of the driving shaft, the adjacentend of saidshaft being journaled in a bearing 10 formedin the forwardend of therudder frame. The opposite-end of the driving shaft isjournaled m a gear su porting frame 11, and a driving pinion 12 is eyed,pinned or otherwise suitably fixed to the u per end ofthe driving shaft.A relatively lar e bevel wheel 13 cooperates with the sma er pinion 12and 'isv venient y manipu ate these handles to propel the boat.

7 The gear frame is connected rigidly to the rudder frame preferably bymeans of a tube or pipe 17, the ends of which may be threaded 1nto therespective frames, and this tube or pipe ineloses the driving shaft andthus protects it from sea-weed or from the deteriorating action ofthewater.

Any suitable means may be employed for -mounting the propelling meansupon the boat orvessel. It IS generally preferable to so mount thepropelling means as to enable the same to be swerved or turned in ahorizontal direction so as to steer the course of the vessel by the useof the rudder, and to also permit an adjustment of the apparatus in thedirection of the axis of the driving shaft in order that the depth 'ofthe ropeller and rudder beneath-the surface of t e water may be variedaccording to the depth of the water which the boat is navigating. In thepresent instance, a bracket is provided which com rises a clam portion18, the arms of whic h are adapte to fit over the boat or vessel at thestern and is provided with a screw or other appropriate device 19 forlocking the clamp in position. A swiveled clam 20 is mounted on thevattaching clamp, itav.- ing a stem 21 which fits into a bearing 0 en'-,ing formed in the upper side of the attae ing clamp, and it is provldedwith a air of arms 22 and 23 which are connected y a clam ing screw 24.The roximate sides of t e arms 22 and 23 are ormed with concentricrecesses to receive the tube 17 which connects the rudder and gearframes and surrounds the driving shaft. 24 is loose, the tu may beadjusted axially so as to vary the depth of the ro eller below thesurface of the water an a so the distance'of the propeller from thestern of the boat, and by tightening the screw 24, the apparatus will befirmly locked in adjusted position, the rudder 2 at this time standin ina vertical position, and the driving shaft eing inclined upwardly-andforwardly from the propeller.

While the screw In practice the boat or vessel is propelled.

by an occupant thereof tumin the handles 15 and 16 111 an ap ropriatemotion of the whee 13 being transmitted thro gh the pinion 12 to thedriving shaft 7, and tation'of the driving shaft communicates motionthrough the universal joint to drivin shaft to vary the immersion-of thepro e er and rudder according to the depth of t e water. As the swivelclamp is capable of rotating only about the stem 21 as an axis, the aparatus will be supported at all times in t e proper angular position.By

.surroundingthe propeller with a frame such as that described, the proeller is protected from foulingupon shallow ottoms and other sunkenobjects. v

'Propelling apparatus constructed in accordance with my presentinvention is com-- paratively simple in construction and efficient inoperation, all parts of the apparatus being connected together so thatit is only necessary to attach the securing clamp to the boat in .orderto apply the ap aratus thereto, and in practice a relatively ighefirection, the

ficieney is 'obta'med for the reason that the axis of the propeller ishorizontal or parallel to the surface of the water so that the drivingforce of the propeller is in a plane parallel to the path of movement ofthe boat, the inclined driving shaft being operatively connected by theuniversal joint to the shaft of the pro eller and extending in adirection upward y and forwardly to the boat.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In a boat propeller, in combination, a clamp for attachment to aboat, a gear frame, a propeller frame, a tube conneetin said frames andheld in said clamp, said tube being mounted in'sai'd clamp for axialadjustment, a driving shaft passed through said tube andhaving its endportions j ournaled in said frames, gear means su ported by said gearframe for driving said s iaft, a propeller shaft having a bearing insaid propeller frame, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, and adriving connection between said driving shaft and said propeller shaft.

2. A propeller attachment for boats com prising a revoluble propellersup orted for angular adjustment in a horizonta direction with respectto a boat, a rigid driving shaft arranged angularly with respect to theaxis of the propeller, means for maintaining the propeller andpermanently its driving sea-sea shaft in fixed angular relation, auniversal drivin connection between said shaft and propel er, and meansfor operating the drivmg shaft from a boat.

3. A propeller attachment for boats comprising a revoluble propellerhaving its axis arranged substantially horizontal, a driving shaftinclined relatively to the axis of the propeller, one of said partshaving a socket provided with an angu ar tapering recess and the otherpart having an angularly-shaped tapering stem to cooperate with saidsocket and form a driving connection therewith, and

means for supporting the propeller andshaft for angular adjustment withrespect to the length of the boat and for driving the propeller andshaft.

4. A propeller attachment for boats comprising a revoluble propellerhaving its axis arranged substantially horizontal, a rigid driving shaftinclined relatively to the axis of the propeller, means for permanentlymaintaining the axes of the propeller and driving shaft in fixed angularrelation, a universal joint 'operatively connecting the propeller andthe driving shaft, and means for supporting the propeller and shaft forangular adjustment bodily with respect to the bofit and for operatingthe shaft and prope er. 5. A propeller attachment for boats comprising arevoluble pro eller having a longitudinal axis, a rope ler frame havinga steering rudder t ereon in rear and in co-' operative relation withsaid propeller, a driving shaft inclined relatively to the axis of thepropeller and o erable from the boat, a driving connection etween thepropeller and said inclined shaft, and means for supporting thepropeller and shaft for angular adjustment about an axis transverse tothe length of the driving shaft.

6. A propeller attachment for boats comrising a frame, a ropellerjournaled on a ongitudinal axis tierein, a rudder formed by the rearportion of said frame, a rigid driving shaft inclined with respect tothe axis of the propeller and having its lower end journaled in saidframe, means for rigidly maintaining the said shaft in fixed angularrelation to the axis of each propeller, a universal joint operativelyconnecting said inclined shaft and pro eller, and means connected to theframe 'or sup orting it in different angular positions wit 1 respect tothe boat.

7 A propeller attachment for boats comprising a propeller frame having arudder formed in the rear portion thereof, a revoluble propeller havinga shaft journaled at its rear end in said frame and provided with amember of a universal joint at its forward prising a frame, a rudderformed in the rear portion of said frame, a propeller journaled in theframe in advance of the'rudder, a rigid driving shaft arranged ininclined relation-to the axis of the propeller and having its lower endjournaled in the frame and provided with a universal joint forming adriving connection with the propeller, a gear frame mounted on the upperend of the shaft and provided with suitable operating mechanism, a tubeinclosing the shaft and having its ends secured respectively to therudder frame and the gear frame, and means cooperating with said tubefor supporting the apparatus for angular adjustment with respect to theboat. I 9. A propeller attachment for boats comprising a propellerframe, arevoluble ropeller j ournaled therein, a rlgid driving s raftmelined with respect to the axis of the pro peller and having auniversal joint providing a driving connection therewith, means at theupper end of the driving shaft foroperating the latter, a tube inclosingthe driving shaft, and a bracket coo crating with said tube and adaptedfor attac ment to theboat and providing for an axial adjustment of thedriving shaft with respect thereto to vary the immersion of the proeller. 10. A propel er attachment for boats comprising a revolublepropeller, a drivmg shaft operatively connected thereto and providedwith gearing for driving the same, the arms of said shaft being inclinedrelative to the axis of the propeller, and a bracket for-suporting theapparatus upon a boat, said racket being provided with an attachingclamp, and with a clamp swivcled to turn on the bracket about an axistransverse to the axis of the driving shaft, the swiveled bracket beingprovided with means to surround said inclined driving shaft forpermitting a relative axial adjustment thereof, and'for securing thesame in different adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit-

